Through this discovery Fire-tamer gradually became the most important man among the Ammi. Neither the strength of Pounder, nor the courage of Koree, nor the wisdom of Abroo impressed the populace so much as the mastery by this man of the wood-eating beast. He was appealed to in all matters relating to fire. No other would venture to manage the animal. Fire-tamer came at length to be thought sacred. The beast, it was believed, dared not touch him. And Fire-tamer artfully used this mystery to strengthen his influence among the Men. He purposely kept them in ignorance and fear of the monster. He meant to keep control of this interest, which he had the wisdom to perceive was soon to become the most important one among the Ammi. He had, in short, a “corner” on fire, and meant to keep it.
The awe in which Fire-tamer was thus held, and the influence which he had in consequence among the people, excited the jealousy of Koree and other leaders, who saw their own star declining. Several quarrels ensued, and there was a crisis, when a happy solution was reached by making Fire-tamer a sort of high priest, whose business it was to have charge of the wood-eating monster and keep it burning, in return for which distinction he was to abandon his ambition to control the Ammi in other matters. His office was the predecessor of that of the vestal virgins, and his charge—fire—became worshipped as a deity, while he, as keeper of it, became the chief ruler of men in religious matters.
While they were discussing these interests, and the reciprocal bounds of church and state were being first laid off, there arose a great commotion among them.
“Splash!” “Splash!” “Splash!”
Such were the sounds that were now heard a second time; but the terror was greater than before, and such a scene of confusion had never yet been known to men.
The fire had melted the ice, which gave way, and men, fire and all went down into the water. One over another they tumbled, and, amid smoking logs and sissing embers, struggled with one another and with the floating ice. The fire was put out, and with it went the prestige of Fire-tamer, at least for awhile.
Some thought the wood-eating monster had taken a plunge and was running away with them. They expected to be carried under the ice and into the ground; and they were much relieved when they found that the monster had gone alone and left them behind, and, as they gradually regained the shore, or rather the firm ice, they presented such a mass of shivering and dripping humanity as had not been seen till that day.